US envoy meets Sudanese army chief in Egypt

On October 5, US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos met with Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Egypt. This rare encounter follows a string of US interventions aimed at concluding the devastating war that has caused one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

The US reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to finding a political resolution to the conflict. In a statement on X, Boulos emphasized that the United States, in collaboration with Egyptian partners and other regional and international allies, remains dedicated to advancing a political solution to the crisis.

The meeting took place just two weeks after Washington denied an entry visa to al-Burhan ahead of a planned UN appearance. Sudanese and other sources claimed this decision was related to a US-backed ceasefire proposal that Khartoum has refused to accept.

The two sides have been engaged in a bitter conflict since April 2023, following a power struggle over the integration of their forces in a transition towards civilian rule. The US State Department has labeled the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces paramilitary, and their respective leaders as illegitimate and unconstitutional representatives of Sudan.

The ongoing war has led to the displacement of over 14 million people and has given rise to waves of ethnically-driven violence. The US has accused the RSF of carrying out genocide and the army of committing war crimes, both of which have denied such allegations.